PRESS RELEASE
November 27, 2013
For Immediate Release
[email protected]
www.mcbtennis.org
Four Players ready to compete to win the
“Little Mo” Grand Slam
PGA National Resort & Spa
BallenIsles Country Club
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
December 6-11, 2013
Nishesh Basavareddy - Irvine, California
Noa Krznaric - Zagreb, Croatia
Michael Eala – Makati City, Philippines
Alexandra Eala - Makati City, Philippines
Dallas, Texas - This year marks the 60th anniversary of Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly's Grand
Slam win in 1953. Maureen was the first woman to win the Grand Slam - winning all four majors
in one calendar year. She is still the only American woman and the youngest at age 18 to have
accomplished this magnificent feat. Although her career only spanned three years, many premier
sports writers consider Maureen to be the finest of all female players. To put the significance of
her achievement into perspective, only five players have won the "Grand Slam" in singles.
To honor and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Maureen's Grand Slam win, the Maureen
Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation created the “Little Mo” Grand Slam for boys and girls ages
8-12. If a player wins all three "Little Mo" Internationals, they will win the "Little Mo" Grand
Slam and the tallest trophy ever given in junior tennis (6 feet). There are four players who are
still in the running to win the “Little Mo” Grand Slam: Nishesh Basavareddy (Irvine,California),
the brother/sister duo of Michael and Alexandra Eala (Makati City, Philippines), and Noa
Krznaric (Zagreb, Croatia). These players won the first leg at the “Little Mo” Internationals in
Colorado Springs, Colorado in July and the second leg at The West Side Tennis Club in Forest
Hills, New York. The third and final leg will be held next week at the PGA National Resort &
Spa and BallenIsles Country Club from December 6-11. All four players will be competing for
the chance to take home the 6-foot trophy. (see player profiles below)
In addition to these top four players, there will be another 360 players from 40 countries entered
in the “Little Mo” Internationals. The players will be competing all week in singles, doubles and
mixed doubles. The opening ceremony will be held at 4:00 pm at BallenIsles Country Club on
Friday, December 6. Matches will begin on Saturday, December 7. We hope you will join us and
watch the youngest and brightest stars of the future.
GOING FOR THE “LITTLE MO” GRAND SLAM
NISHESH BASAVAREDDY – Born May 2, 2005 (8 years old)
From Irvine, California, Nishesh Basavareddy is in 4th grade and goes to Prairie
Trace Elementary where he is in advanced Math and Language Arts. He grew
up playing both soccer and tennis, and at only 6 ½ years old decided to focus
solely on tennis. Nishesh “loves running around and hitting the ball.” His long
term goal is to work hard and become the best player he can be. In addition to
tennis, Nishesh’s hobbies include reading and playing video games as well as
playing soccer and basketball. Some of the things Nishesh loves about “Little
Mo” tournaments are meeting new kids, having fun, receiving “Mo” coins and
going to the player parties. His favorite “Little Mo” memory is meeting the
Bryan Brothers at his first “Little Mo” Internationals in Forest Hills, New York.
Nishesh wants to win the “Little Mo” Grand Slam because he wants to take home that 6-foot trophy! Nishesh
recently won the “Little Mo” Nationals in Austin, Texas in October. If he wins the “Little Mo” Grand Slam this
year in addition to his Nationals title, he will win the “Little Mo” Golden Slam.
NOA KRZNARIC – Born April 19, 2003 (10 years old)
From Zagreb, Croatia, Noa is in 4th grade and goes to the primary school Grof Janko
Draskovic. Noa started playing tennis when she was six years old, and she loves it
because “it is one very interesting game and I like playing points.” Noa’s long term goal
is to become the best tennis player in the world. One of her favorite hobbies is playing
basketball with her pet dog bull terrier, Point. Noa loves the “Little Mo” tournaments
because of the good atmosphere, great company and being able to meet kids from
around the world. One of Noa’s favorite memories of “Little Mo” was getting to play on
grass for the first time at the “Little Mo” Internationals in Forest Hills. Noa wants to
win the “Little Mo” Grand Slam, because she wants to be the first player from Croatia
to do so! Noa is a lefty and hasn’t lost a game in the previous two “Little Mo”
Internationals.
MICHAEL EALA – Born August 23, 2002 (11 years old)
ALEXANDRA EALA – Born May 23, 2005 (8 years old)
This brother/sister duo from Makati City, Philippines will be trying to bring home two 6’ trophies. Michael is in 6th
grade and goes to Xavier School, a Jesuit-Chinese-Filipino School in Manila. He started playing tennis when he was
4 years old and his dream is to turn pro and be a champion like Nadal! Some other hobbies that Michael enjoys are
soccer and basketball. Michael loves making new friends and getting to play in different places at the “Little Mo”
tournaments. He wants to win the “Little Mo” Grand Slam
because “it will give me more confidence to train hard and
pursue my dream of being a pro.” Michael’s favorite
“Little Mo” memory was winning the Sportsmanship
Award in Colorado.
Alexandra is in 3rd grade and goes to the Immaculate
Conception Academy, an all-girls school offering
Mandarin as part of its curriculum. Alex first started
playing tennis at age 4 after seeing her brother play
competitively. Right now, Alex “just wants to enjoy the
game” as well as win more trophies, especially the 6-foot
“Little Mo” Grand Slam trophy. Alex’s hobbies include
swimming and Kumon, and she recently started baking.
Alex enjoys meeting other kids through “Little Mo” as well as traveling to play in the different “Little Mo”
tournaments in the U.S. Her best “Little Mo” memory is winning five “Little Mo” International trophies this year.